Effect of reducing the n−6:n−3 long-chain PUFA ratio during pregnancy and lactation on infant adipose tissue growth within the first year of life: an open-label randomized controlled trial

• DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.111.022590
• Publication Date: 2011-12-29T01:59:43Z
• Authors: Hans Hauner; Daniela Much; Christiane Vollhardt; Stefanie Brunner; Daniela Schmid; Eva-Maria Sedlmeier; Ellen Heimberg; Tibor Schuster; Andrea Zimmermann; Karl-Theo M Schne...; Bernhard L Bader; Ulrike Amann-Gassner
• Keywords: Adult; 0301 basic medicine; Abdominal Fat; 610; 03 medical and health sciences; Pregnancy; Fatty Acids, Omega-6; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Body Fat Distribution; Humans; Lactation; Longitudinal Studies; Obesity; Ultrasonography; 2. Zero hunger; Arachidonic Acid; Infant, Newborn; Infant; Dietary Fats; 3. Good health; Skinfold Thickness; Breast Feeding; Adipose Tissue; Dietary Supplements; Female

The composition of long-chain PUFAs (LCPUFAs) in the maternal diet may affect obesity risk in the mother's offspring.We hypothesized that a reduction in the n-6 (omega-6):n-3 (omega-3) LCPUFA ratio in the diet of pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers may prevent expansive adipose tissue growth in their infants during the first year of life.In a randomized controlled trial, 208 healthy pregnant women were randomly assigned to an intervention (1200 mg n-3 LCPUFAs as a supplement per day and a concomitant reduction in arachidonic acid intake) or a control diet from the 15th wk of pregnancy to 4 mo of lactation. The primary outcome was infant fat mass estimated by skinfold thickness (SFT) measurements at 4 body sites at 3-5 d, 6 wk, and 4 and 12 mo postpartum. Secondary endpoints included sonographic assessment of abdominal subcutaneous and preperitoneal fat, fat distribution, and child growth.Infants did not differ in the sum of their 4 SFTs at ≤1 y of life [intervention: 24.1 ± 4.4 mm (n = 85); control: 24.1 ± 4.1 mm (n = 80); mean difference: -0.0 mm (95% CI: -1.3, 1.3 mm)] or in growth. Likewise, longitudinal ultrasonography showed no significant differences in abdominal fat mass or fat distribution.We showed no evidence that supplementation with n-3 fatty acids and instructions to reduce arachidonic acid intake during pregnancy and lactation relevantly affects fat mass in offspring during the first year of life. Prospective long-term studies are needed to explore the efficacy of this dietary approach for primary prevention. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00362089.